Bill Gates and six others subpoenaed to testify before House committee about Epstein ties
Investigation focuses on alleged mismanagement of federal probe and ethics violations
Gates admitted to ties with Epstein from 2011-2014 but denied any illegal involvement
DOJ files reveal Epstein maintained connections with influential figures after 2008 conviction
📖 Full Retelling
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and six others, including former Epstein employees, associates, and prominent figures like Kathryn Ruemmler and Leon Black, were asked to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on March 3, 2026, as part of an investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged connections to influential individuals. The subpoenas were issued by House Oversight Committee chair James Comer, who stated in seven letters that the recipients 'have information that will assist in its investigation' regarding alleged mismanagement of the federal probe into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The committee is examining how Epstein and Maxwell 'sought to curry favor and exercise influence to protect their illegal activities' and potential ethics violations by elected officials. Gates has confirmed he plans to testify, stating he 'never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein's illegal conduct' and welcomes the opportunity to answer questions. The requests come amid new revelations from Justice Department files released last year, which show Epstein maintained connections with wealthy and powerful individuals long after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution. Gates recently apologized to Gates Foundation staff for his ties to Epstein, which spanned 2011-2014, admitting they traveled together on a private jet to Germany, France, New York, and Washington. The DOJ files also contained unverified allegations against Gates from Epstein, which Gates' spokesperson called 'absurd and completely false.' Other documents revealed that Ruemmler once wrote she 'adored' Epstein and arranged a White House tour for filmmaker Woody Allen at Epstein's request, while Black received advice from Epstein on handling fallout from an affair.
🏷️ Themes
Epstein Investigation, Congressional Oversight, Power and Influence
Standing committee of the United States House of Representatives
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the main investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. The committee's broad jurisdiction and legislative authority make it one of the most influential and powerful panels in the House. Its chair is one of only three in the...
American financier and child sex offender (1953–2019)
# Jeffrey Edward Epstein
**Jeffrey Edward Epstein** (January 20, 1953 – August 10, 2019) was an American financier and convicted sex offender. He is notorious for orchestrating a massive human trafficking ring, procuring at least 1,000 underage girls and young women for sexual exploitation by himse...
American businessman and philanthropist (born 1955)
William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American businessman and philanthropist. A pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, he co-founded the software company Microsoft in 1975 with his childhood friend Paul Allen. Gates became the world's then-youngest billiona...
Sex trafficking is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Perpetrators of the crime are called sex traffickers or sometimes pimps—people who manipulate victims to engage in various forms of commercial sex with paying customers. Sex traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion as the...
Politics Bill Gates among 7 asked to testify before House committee on possible Epstein ties By Faris Tanyos Faris Tanyos News Editor Faris Tanyos is a news editor for CBSNews.com, where he writes and edits stories and tracks breaking news. He previously worked as a digital news producer at several local news stations up and down the West Coast. Read Full Bio Faris Tanyos March 3, 2026 / 10:19 PM EST / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is among seven people who on Tuesday were asked to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding its ongoing investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein . The six others are Lesley Groff, a former longtime executive assistant to Epstein; Sarah Kellen, another former Epstein employee; Kathryn Ruemmler , former White House counsel to former President Barack Obama; Leon Black , co-founder of Apollo Global Management; Doug Band , a longtime personal aide and counselor to former President Bill Clinton , who along with his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , both testified separately on Epstein before the House Oversight Committee last week; and tech billionaire Ted Waitt, a former boyfriend of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who attended Chelsea Clinton's 2010 wedding as a guest of Maxwell. In the seven letters , House Oversight Committee chair James Comer writes that the committee believes the recipients "have information that will assist in its investigation." Comer explains that the committee is reviewing the "alleged mismanagement of the federal government's investigation" into Epstein and Maxwell, ways in which Epstein and Maxwell "sought to curry favor and exercise influence to protect their illegal activities," and "potential violations of ethics rules related to elected officials." The seven were given testimony dates ranging from April 16 to June 9. A spokesperson for Gates indicated that he planned to testify before the committee. "Gates...
